Chinese automaker to purchase Rover badge

What's in a name? Well, for starters, heritage, prestige and, in the case of Rover, a loyal following whose unfettered obsession is only eclipsed by one Chinese automaker's pocketbook.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. may have finally wriggled the Rover name from BMW AG's hands, in a deal that, according to the Birmingham Post in Great Britain, involves the Chinese automaker shelling out $21.7 million for the famed mark.

Why Shanghai Automotive and not the winning bidder of MG Rover's production equipment, Nanjing Automobile? Shanghai Auto had worked with Rover before it went 'pop' in early 2005 and owns the rights to the Rover 75, which it plans to put into production and have on sale in late 2007 or early 2008.

At this point in the game, we're not sure if we even care where the cars are built or what badge adorns the hood, we'd just like to see something tangible come out of the defunct automaker.

[Source: Automotive News]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.








Autoblog Podcast #154: Gobbling up the News

Chris, Sam, and Dan kick out a podcast just in time for the long holiday drive.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • 2011 BMW 5 Series sedan
  • Texas unveils new Vanity Plates
  • Spy Shots: Next-gen Buick Excelle for China
  • 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
  • Hyundai 2.4L Theta-II GDI
  • Ginetta G50EV and John Surtees at the Channel Tunnel
  • 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser
  • Review: 2009 Infiniti G37x S Sedan
  • Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII-R
  • 2011 Buick Regal Live Unveiling
  • BMW Concept 6
  • Zenvo ST1 Details

AOL Autos

Find Your Next Car

Autoblog Video


Autoblog Green

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum